Disclaimer: I do not own Erik, or Christine, or any other characters mentioned here. Though I wish I did.

A/N: This is probably gonna be a one-shot. Totally Leroux inspired. It's very short, and guite… gloomy. I was writing it while listening to the soundtrack of "Requiem for a Dream". I was mostly inspired by "Summer Overture" and, of course, "Meltdown".


Christine… Christine… Christine!

Her name echoes in the Opera's cellars.

But Christine is gone.

Christine is gone.

Christine is gone! Gone! Gone! That word keeps dancing in my head, it keeps tormenting me!

Damn her! Oh, what a silly girl she is! What a fool she is! I gave her everything! I was going to give her everything! Whatever she wanted, she could have it!

But poor Erik couldn't have the one thing he wanted! A wife! A real wife, and a real house, and a real life! No, no, Erik couldn't have that!

Erik couldn't have that. Because he is a monster! A pitiful creature that lurks in shadows! A devil from Hell! No, Erik can't have a real life, like everyone else! His curse will make sure that Erik will never have a real life!

I was so close to happiness! But Christine ruined it before I could reach my happiness and hold her tight so she'll never leave me and let me rot in my misery again. Christine ruined everything! No… not Christine. No, it wasn't Christine's fault!

I ruined everything! Me, and my curse!

I wanted to love her! I wanted to be her angel! But everything slipped away.

I tried to give her whatever was good in me. My music, my voice… I tried to create a little, perfect world for her, full of flowers, music and happiness.

But that wasn't enough for Christine. It wasn't enough to make her forget about my curse. No, my cursed face made her run away. She couldn't see past me. She was like a mirror; only reflecting my distorted face, not my soul.

I had good in my soul. I was ready to give it to her. I wanted her to see, to see that I wasn't the monster that everyone was afraid of, to see that I was a man, not a phantom, to see that I could love like everyone else.

She wouldn't see! She wouldn't see! Why wouldn't she see? Why?

Oh my angel! Christin, my angel! I ruined everything… Everything… I wasn't her angel anymore. I was a devil!

What really happened? I can't remember.

I only remember feeling hate. Hate, hate, so much hate! That boy, the Viscomte, I hated him with all my heart! He wanted to take Christine away from me! She promised her so many things, but never gave her anything. Why did she chose him? Oh, why did she chose him?

And I can remember feeling love. Love… The only thing I've ever known is hate, anger, rejection, fear… And then, Christine. The sight of her, the sound of her voice, makes my heart ache, warms my cold heart in a painful way.

I love her so much! So much that it hurts! Why can't she see that?

I have to let her go, prove once again that I love her.

But it is so hard! I feel so many things! Christine betrayed me!

No! You mustn't think that! It wasn't her fault. It was your fault! Your fault!

What must I do now?

I will hide again in the shadows. Yes, yes, I'll disappear again.


A/N: Is it just me, or the last phrase ("Yes, yes, I'll disappear again") sounds a bit like Smeagol? What did you think? Please review!